Wildlife Viewing Blinds Loop via H-3 Trail and H-1 Trail(edit)

based on 3 tracks & routes | |

DIFFICULT

8.8 mi

Distance

4 hrs 37 min

Time

531 ft

Elev Gain

Overview

This is a moderate loop trail in Thunderbird Conservation Park. This trail goes by Wildlife Viewing Blinds.

Rate this Hike

★★★★★

BraveVine5862 5 years, 3 months ago

This hike summits all three main peaks in the Thunderbird Conservation Park. Just about all the trails in the park connect with one another and connecting all three peaks was Easy to navigate. I started at the 55th Ave & Pinnacle Peak parking lot at the Coach Whip trailhead. I turned onto the Arrowhead Point Loop. After submitting one peak, Arrowhead connects back to a later section of Coach Whip which I took across the bridge the crosses Pinnacle Peak. Took the Coach Whip North/North East to the Cholla Loop. That summits another leak and then descends to connect to the Sunrise trail after crossing parking lot/picnic areas. Sunrise summits another peak and when descending I turned off onto the Ridgeline trail. Ridgeline connects back to Coach Whip that took me around back to the parking lot/picnic area where I went back over the Pinnacle Peak bridge and back to the parking lot where I started. It was about 8.5 miles and although it’s not a very beautiful hike, in my opinion, I think it serves well as preparation for other desired longer hikes or backpacking trips. The ascending and descending of three peaks gives a good work out and conditioning and each peak gives pretty good views of the valley. Much of the Arrowhead Point Loop an Cholla Loop are pretty rocky and can have some fairly high steps to get up. Elevation gain for each peak is probably close to 600-700 ft each. I liked the challenge of hiking up three different peaks so, I’ll probably do this hike again.

★ ★ ★